Plunder of the Sun Page #5

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What were you talking

to that fellow about?

Nothing.

You can't kid Julie. I listened.

Did you hear anything interesting?

- You've got something he wants.

- What?

I couldn't hear 'cause you moved away.

But I know where it is, mystery man.

- Where?

- It's in the hotel safe.

I saw you put it there, remember?

Give me another drink.

- You don't want anything more to drink.

- Yes, I do.

I want lots more.

Then we'll go out and have some fun.

Look, instead of that,

suppose we go to your room, huh?

What for?

Well, for one thing,

we can have a little privacy.

You can't kid Julie.

- Privacy, period.

- Yeah, sure, I know. Come on, let's go.

Come on, let's go.

I always knew you went for me.

I need a man like you around.

I get Ionely all by myself.

I've always been Ionely.

Kiss me, mystery man.

Come here.

Now, take a good look at yourself.

Who'd wanna kiss that?

Seor Colby.

I've been waiting a long time for you.

I'm sorry, the price has gone up

a couple of thousand times.

I've offered all the money I have.

Hey, why did you lie to me

about being Berrien's daughter?

I did it because of my guardian.

You see, I am adopted.

Because of your guardian, you took

a job as Berrien's nurse, is that it?

Yes. He wants the manuscript, too.

It is an obsession with him.

Who is your guardian?

I am afraid I cannot tell you now.

If you're legally free of him,

why don't you just leave him?

Have you never had a debt...

which was not legal,

but which you felt you had to pay?

He's been very kind to me,

perhaps a little too kind...

and now he wants me to marry his son.

- And you don't want to?

- No.

That's why I want to try

and help him get the manuscript.

I would like to repay him

in some other way.

He's been so very good to me.

Do you know something?

I don't know, but for the first time,

I think you're telling me the truth.

Yes, I am. Please believe me.

I believe you.

- Then, please understand.

- And I understand.

But it's still no sale.

Thank you.

- Seor Navarro?

- Yes?

What can I do for you, seor?

The curator of the museum

said you might be able to help me.

I have a Zapotec manuscript

that I'd like to have translated.

I would be glad to look at it.

Now, there's only one thing I'll have to

tell you. You won't know what it says.

- What do you mean?

- I don't have the original manuscript.

I just have the photographs

of the words, out of order.

Impossible.

Without knowing the sentence structure,

nobody could make a translation.

You could tell me

what each word meant...

without seeing the whole sentence,

couldn't you?

- Possibly, but...

- Well, I'll put the words together myself.

Is the document so secret, then?

A guide to lost treasure, perhaps?

Perhaps.

There are hundreds

of such documents, seor.

Any seller of antiques

can sell you one for a few pesos.

Yes, I know, but I'd still like

to have this one translated.

Now, how long would it take you

to do it?

By tomorrow evening.

- And how much would you charge?

- Puzzles are another of my interests.

But perhaps you could do one thing.

I need some dollars to cover the cost

of something I'm buying in the States.

It would save me a trip to the capital

if you could sell me some.

- How many would you need?

- The bill will be close to $100.

I don't carry that many

American dollars with me.

- No traveler's checks?

- Yes, I do have those.

- I bring you the pesos.

- All right.

I hope you know

what you're doing with Navarro.

- He's nobody's fool, you know.

- So you told me.

You know, it's awfully decent of you

to worry about me so much.

I got a piece of you, amigo.

- That's what you think.

- Look...

why don't you take me in

as a friendly partner?

Whether you like it or not,

I'm going to be your partner.

- You hope.

- I know.

The lady wishes to see you, seor.

- Where?

- Over there.

- You want a laugh?

- What about?

The way you win friends.

Me, Raul, Jefferson.

How to Make Enemies

and Disgust People.

- What happened to your friend?

- He couldn't stand the sight of you.

You think you're so smart, don't you?

So smart and so superior.

You're not smart, you're dumb.

- All right, so I'm dumb.

- You don't know how dumb.

- Who do you think Raul is?

- Who?

Navarro's son.

That got you, didn't it?

I haven't even started yet.

Do you want to know something else?

Your precious magazine

and whatever was in it, is gone.

I'd like the envelope

I left in the safe this afternoon.

But I gave it to your messenger

not 20 minutes ago.

- That was what your note said to do.

- I didn't send any note.

But...

this is your signature.

I compared it with the register.

"Please deliver to the bearer, the article

you keep for me in the safe. Al Colby."

Your face.

I wish I had a mirror to show it to you.

You told Raul.

I would have told anybody,

just to see your face.

You're wondering about the signature,

aren't you?

Remember the traveler's checks

you signed?

Remember?

This makes up for everything.

Seor Colby.

I've come for my manuscript.

- You can prove title to it?

- I can prove title to half of it...

which is enough to charge you

with theft and forgery.

You smuggled it out of one country

and into another...

twice breaking the law.

My father could, if he cared to...

have the government confiscate it

and jail you.

And, finally, you have forced your way

into this house like a common felon.

- I could shoot you now.

- See how foolish you are, seor?

I'll tell you how foolish I am.

I don't think for a minute...

that you'd turn me or the manuscript

over to the government...

'cause you want it for yourselves.

I'll tell you something else.

You can't afford to have a dead stranger

lying around this place...

somebody whose traveler's checks...

have already been recorded

as being sold to you.

And as for that gun you say

you're carrying, I don't believe you...

Seor Colby,

I think you'd better leave now.

Well, I seem to be slightly outnumbered

at the moment.

That was quite a story you fed me,

Anna Luz.

It was the truth.

- And I'm sorry we had to be enemies...

- Get out, Colby.

Well, don't think

it hasn't been interesting.

Try his shoes.

Well, well.

If it isn't amigo, the India rubber man.

On the bounce again?

Look, if it's a rematch you want...

why don't you wait a couple of years,

maybe you'll grow up.

Did you ever see that those...

pieces you've got there...

They're not gonna do you any good.

See, you gotta have the master list.

- You see these numbers...

- Don't touch...

How did you like the rematch, amigo?

- You had enough?

- Yeah.

How long will it take you

to translate those pieces?

- Why?

- Navarro's got the original.

- Damn it, I told you...

- Never mind what you told me.

We can still beat him if we work fast.

Half.

Yeah, half.

Okay. Okay.

Send down for some coffee,

about five gallons.

- What time is it?

- Twenty to 12:
00.

Fourteen hours and 10 minutes.

- You finished?

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